Norway to separate church and state

11:31 pm - 05/14/2012

All parties stand united when the Norwegian constitution is changed, so that the state will no longer be a part of the Norwegian church. The amendment is to be presented Tuesday.

The amendment which will be passed later in May, historically changes the state's relationship with the church. Parliament will no longer appoint deans and bishops, and Norway will no longer have one offical state religion.

This is historic both for the Norwegian Church and for the politicians in Parliament, says Svein Harberg who has been the spokesman and mayor of the Church, Education and Research Committee.

The Committee will put forward the amendment on Tuesday, which establishes that what we have previously known as the "state church" from now on will have a role as an open, inclusive and democratic people's church.

But apart from this clear mission, the Norwegian Church will be changed to become a religious community equal on line with all other faiths, said Harberg.